English 091: Introduction to College Reading and Writing

Instructor: Dave Moeller

Room: CCC-300

Time: 7:30 – 8:50

Days: Monday and Wednesday

Texts (bring with you to all meetings):

·         Actively Reading Our World

·         Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

·         Rules for Writers by Diana Hacker

Course number: 70877

Web page: http://staff.hartdistrict.org/dmoelle

e-mail address: dmoelle@hartdistrict.org

 

Student Learning Outcomes

1.       Compose thoughtful, well-organized, grammatically correct short essays, using properly documented outside sources and personal experiences to develop a unified thesis.

2.       Distinguish and analyze basic elements of fiction and non-fiction found in introductory college readings.

Objectives

1.       Focus and narrow ideas from prewriting.

2.       Compose well-organized, source-based short essays.

3.       Provide adequate support for thesis statements.

4.       Revise own writing to make it unified, coherent and well-developed.

5.       Apply a variety of patterns of development in writing, such as persuasion, cause and effect and comparison and contrast.

6.       Document external sources with parenthetical citations and a Works Cited list using the MLA format.

7.       Edit own sentences for sentence boundary, punctuation, mechanics, and spelling errors.

8.       Analyze elements of fiction such as plot, setting, characterization, irony, figurative language, and theme.

9.       Analyze elements of non-fiction including author’s thesis, main points, supporting details, and organization strategy.

10.   Synthesize ideas from sources with his or her own ideas.

Grades

On a 1,500-point scale:

·         1,350 = A

·         1,200 = B

·         1,050 = C

·         900 = D

Free Points..................................................... 50

Essay #1......................................................... 100

Essay #2......................................................... 150

Essay #3......................................................... 150

Portfolio / Essay Revision.............................. 150

AROW Test – Intro........................................... 25

AROW Test – section 1..................................... 50

AROW Test – section 3A.................................. 50           

AROW Test – section 3B................................... 50

Ishmael 1........................................................ 75

Ishmael 2........................................................ 75

Ishmael 3........................................................ 75

Final Exam..................................................... 250

Classwork and Homework.............................. 250

TOTAL......................................................... 1,500

Note: A “C” (1,050 pts.) is required in order to move on to English 101.

 

Gradebooks

I keep three gradebooks for the class:

1.       an attendance gradebook

2.       a major grades gradebook (the grades you see listed above, excluding the classwork and homework)

3.       a classwork and homework gradebook

On the last day of the semester, all the classwork and homework will be converted into a 100-point score, based on your percentage. So, for example, if you earn 80% in classwork and homework, you would receive a classwork-homework score of 200 out of 250.

 

 

 

 

Attendance

I use a system of “attendance units.” This system covers all situations, including absences, partial absences, and tardies. Here’s how it works:

You are allowed 16 penalty-free attendance units. Beginning with the 17th attendance unit, your grade is penalized 1 percent per attendance unit.

 

About Absences

This is college; therefore, an absence is an absence. We do not distinguish between good excuses, bad excuses, and no excuses. You are either physically here, or you are not.

Work turned in to my mailbox (go to the switchboard) prior to the beginning of class is considered on time.

If you are industrious, you can minimize the consequences of an absence by (1) turning in your work to my mailbox and (2) going to my Web page.

 

Miscellaneous

If you must bring a cell phone or some other electronic gizmo into class, turn it off before class starts.

For certain essays, I will announce in advance that full credit is given on the due date; partial credit is given at the following class meeting. Other than that, I do not accept late work.

Out-of-class support is provided by the TLC (Tutorial, Learning, and Computing Center) in room 306.

Some assignments will be turned in to Turnitin.com. In the event you have a problem submitting an assignment to Turnitin, you may e-mail me the assignment as an attachment and still get credit. E-mailing me is only a temporary solution; you are expected to solve your Turnitin problem before the next assignment is due.

 

Class Meetings

Note: I prefer to list the major due dates only; that allows us much more flexibility. As we progress through the semester, a listing of what we cover each day will appear on the “What We Did” link on my Web page.

Mon. 8-24—

Wed. 8-26—

Mon. 8-31—AROW: Test on the Introduction

Wed. 9-2—

Mon. 9-7—Labor Day—no class meeting

Wed. 9-9—AROW: Test on section 1, pages 3-37

Mon. 9-14—

Wed. 9-16—

Mon. 9-21—Essay #1 due

Wed. 9-23—

Mon. 9-28—Test: Ishmael #1—chapters 1-5

Wed. 9-30—

Mon. 10-5— Test: Ishmael #2—chapters 6-9

Wed. 10-7—

Mon. 10-12— Test: Ishmael #3—chapters 10-13

Wed. 10-14—

Mon. 10-19—

Wed. 10-21—Essay #2 due

Mon. 10-26—

Wed. 10-28—

Mon. 11-2—Test: AROW section 3A, pages 75-128

Wed. 11-4—

Mon. 11-9— Veteran’s Day—no class meeting

Wed. 11-11—Test: AROW section 3B, pages 129-183

Mon. 11-16—

Wed. 11-18—

Mon. 11-23—Essay #3 due

Wed. 11-25—

Mon. 11-30—

Wed. 12-2—

Mon. 12-7—Portfolio / Revision due

Wed. 12-9—Final Exam

 

Some Dates

·         Last day for refunds—Sept. 4

·         Last day to add—Sept. 4

·         Drop deadline—Sept. 18

·         Withdrawal—Oct. 16